Deepest Sympathy To The Family of Fisherman Joe Cracchiolo- Pictures of The Herring Seiner Sunlight

Our deepest sympathy does out to the family of Joe Cracchiolo who was working aboard the herring Seiner Sunlight.

Here are my photos of the Sunlight from the past couple of years.

click the picture for a slide show-

image

Click here for the story at the Gloucester Daily Times website

Heather Atwood and Joanne Avallon Prepare Winter Sausage Giambotta Video at The Taste of the Times

image


Heather Atwood of Food For Thought invited an old friend to her kitchen to cook one of the old favorites from her Italian family’s recipes. It is quick, easy and proves again that there seems to be no limit to the various ways that Italian peasant food can be made to taste delicious. A giambotta is an Italian stew, particularly hearty and good for the winter months. It can be vegetarian or with meat, but Joanne Avalaon prepares one of her family recipes the way they made it growing up in an Italian household, made with sweet Italian sausage seasoned with fennel.

Click the video below to view the video at The Taste of the Timesimage

January in Rockport

Don’t be deterred by the sight of Rockport’s Christmas tree being hacked into bits…downtown Rockport is still happening, with lots of shops still open along with TWO coffee shops and a couple of restaurants! Besides, it’s cathartic to see the giant tree taken down in late January, even if it is in such a gruesome manner. You know that the time for excess partying is past and we have settled into one of our classic, cold and beautiful New England winters.

Rich Vassallo Thatcher’s Light Photos

Joey,

Enjoy reading your blog. My dad (Rich Vassallo) took these photos of Thatchers. Thought I’d forward them on to you.

Have a good one, Andy

IMG_1393

IMG_1395

IMG_1397

Did You Know (Goose Cove)

painting of egret feeding at Goose Cove in the low tide shallows
Painting by E.J. Lefavour

That Goose Cove Reservation was conserved by a group of concerned Gloucester residents who cherished the natural scenic beauty of this woodland as seen from Route 127?  The property features wooded upland, rocky shoreline, and tidal mudflats.  The scenery is some of the most beautiful and tranquil of all Greenbelt properties, and provides an opportunity to study varied plant and animal life.  A variety of estuarine and marine plants and algae exist in unusual proximity along the shoreline, and there is an abundance of shorebirds.  Geologic features include Cape Ann granite, horenblended granite, glacial erratics, glacial outwash, and moraine.  Great spot for Hiking, birding and nature study, cross country skiing & snow shoeing, fishing, and canoeing.

Direction from Route 128, at Grant Circle in Gloucester:
Drive north on Washington Street, Route 127, toward Lanesville for 1.9 miles. Landmarks you will pass are: the hospital on your left, the Ralph O’Malley Middle School on your right, you will drive over a causeway, and pass The Grange on your right, and a sign for the Beeman School.  The Goose Cove parking area is on the right.  This is a blind right turn that could be easy to miss.  If you pass a small municipal building on the right, you have gone to far.  Visit http://www.ecga.org/properties/goosecove.html for more info.

This painting is of an egret feeding in the shallows at low tide in Goose Cove.

E.J. Lefavour

www.khanstudiointernational.com

Revels comes to Cape Ann Museum this Saturday 11AM

If you have never heard the Revels and you and your children are a little snowbound crazy you must go to Cape Ann Museum this Saturday at 11AM.  It’s free and the Revels has to be experienced. Audience participation becomes necessary. Do not be surprised if your family is dragged on stage to clog or something.

Details:

Join Revels Rep as they perform “A Celebration of the Sea,” an exuberant program exploring the lives of whalers during the great age of sail and their families who remained on shore. Beginning on the docks of New Bedford, the program includes packing for a journey; farewell to friends and family; shipboard work and entertainment; a whale hunt; a storm at sea, and a celebration of the sailors’ safe return.

Saturday January 29 at 11 AM.

27 Pleasant Street, Gloucester.

St Ann’s Open House and Reception Sunday January 31st

Hi Joey – Felicia recommended that I attach the following flyer to you for one of the "goings on" happening at St. Ann School next week in honor of Catholic Schools Week!  This particular event with a local artist is open to the public and is occurring on Thursday at 12:30pm.  It is enrichment for both adults and children.  The flyer explains it all and we would appreciate it if you would post it on GMG.

St. Ann’s School is having an open house and reception for all parents interested in touring the school and finding out more about its curriculum and program on Sunday, January 31st at 11:00 (immediately following Mass). 
Thank you very much for your help!  Just to warn you – I will be sending you another flyer for  a St. Ann’s School Valentine’s Comedy Night fundraiser coming up at the Cruiseport on Friday February 11th.  Three headliner comedians, chocolate Valentine theme candy bar, 50/50, doors open at 7:30…  as soon as I get the flyer emailed to me. Would it be possible for you to post the above information as a teaser until I get you the flyer? 
Thanks again!
By the way – I am a huge fan of gmg, drive around with your car sticker (which I get compliments on), and my son Danny was on your Horribles Parade float!  Dan is in school with Amanda…
Joey – fyi as you already know St. Ann’s is a great Cape Ann Catholic school that has a long tradition in the city but is in serious financial danger due to the Archdiocese of Boston’s financial troubles and its inability to continue to help the school.  St.  Ann’s needs community help to stay open and we are trying to reach out to the community, whom I think would be very sad (whether they believe in Catholic education or not), to see the school, with so much history and tradition in Gloucester, shut its doors.  We can use all the help we can get to get the word out!  Thank you!

Marnie Powers
VP of St. Ann PTO
close friend of the famous Felicia!

‘Sometimes Wheels Spit and Sputter,’ from WHAT DO WHEELS DO ALL DAY?, 2006

image
Below: ‘Chapel on Naxos,’ from SACRED PLACES, 2000

image

ART FOR KIDS, AND BEYOND

Giles Laroche has been drawing for as long as he can remember. "I especially enjoyed sketching the mountains, old farmhouses, and mill buildings which surrounded Berlin, New Hampshire, the town I grew up in." Giles fell in love with books at a young age.
Little did Giles know that when he grew up, other people would gaze at his books about faraway lands and that he would also travel to many of the places he would come to illustrate in such books as Bridges Are To Cross, Sacred Places and What’s Inside? Fascinating Structures Around the World. Whether Giles is exploring in Europe or hiking in New England, he always has a sketchbook in hand.
Sketches are only Giles’ first step in creating the elaborate collages that Kirkus Reviews called "truly awe-inspiring." Every illustration involves many stages of drawing, cutting, painting, and gluing. Often, a piece has seven or eight layers before Giles is through with it!  Giles places spacers between each layer to give the final artwork added depth and dimension. He calls his technique "paper relief" because of its three-dimensional effect when photographed for inclusion in his books.
Giles lives and works in his house in Salem, Massachusetts, and in a 230-year-old barn in southwestern New Hampshire.  He writes, "As a child I enjoyed poring over maps, and reading and gazing at books about faraway lands – these are the books I enjoy creating for children."


This school visit will provide students, families and teachers with knowledge of a fine-art form and inspiration for hands-on activities. Above right, Giles Laroche explains his art using the original cover art for DOWN TO THE SEA IN SHIPS.
Copies of Mr. Laroche’s favorite books will be available for purchase by St. Ann Families.  Join us for this exclusive event and you can bring home a signed copy of this acclaimed author/illustrator’s work! 

GILES LAROCHE      41 DEARBORN STREET, SALEM MA 01970      giles@gileslaroche.com

Congratulations To the Farm Bar and Grille Darts Team- State Champs

image

Travis James, Dave Tilley, Jim Stavis, Dave Roberts, Dan Comeau, Peter deJager, Ed Akerley and Kevin Johnson. Kneeling: Minuteman Rep and Team Cpt Brad Atkinson

Yesterday afternoon’s project

I submitted this last night to the 365 Project.  My body was exhausted from shoveling, but the keyboard took very little exertion, and I learned how to put images inside letters.

Today feels like Monday AND Friday rolled into one! Enjoy the day!

Weekend Picks From Your Boy Joey and The North Shore Blogger Consortium

My number one pick for the weekend is going to be the Art Haven Lobster Buoy Auction Tonight!

header

The Main Event

The 3rd annual Buoy Auction and Art Show is on January 28th! At this fundraiser for Art Haven, you have a chance to bring home your favorite buoy from the 2010 tree. Enjoy appetizers from local restaurants and see some of the beautiful artwork produced by our students over the past year!

Silent Auction begins at 6:00 pm, Live Auction at 7:30.

Tickets: $15/adult, $5/student, $35/family before Jan 28

$20/adult, $10/student, or $40/family at the door

(Cash or check only please)

The Weekend Picks From the North Shore Bloggers Consortium Here-

NorthShore

Choices from all over New England at The Two Palaverers.

towerlogo500px

Media giant Seth gives up the best of Lynn at Lynn Happens.

500pxbanner

 

 

 

 

Please welcome Kimmy Bingham and her picks from Newburyport here

header

The wonderful Jane Ward has some great ideas, over at Food and Fiction.

image

North Shore Dish spices things up with their weekend picks here North Shore Dish

image

Weekend Picks from North Shore Kid here

Frankie (The Silver Bullet) Gwynne Face Plant At The Farm Bar and Grille Bikini and Speedo Dodgeball Tournament

Thanks to Kevin Johnson for the video

This Is It!!!!! Friday Night- The Art Haven Lobster Buoy Auction and Art Show

DSC02303

You know all that positive energy that began way back when the lobstermen donated the use of their traps, the merry elves from Art Haven and the usual suspects spent days coordinating and building the lobster trap tree, the kids (and some adults) painted very special buoys to adorn the shining beacon of community spirit that is The 2010 Lobster Trap Tree?

Well here comes the payoff!  Here comes the celebration!   The night when everyone comes together to laugh, shout and enjoy each other’s company at Cruiseport for the Third Annual Art Haven Lobster Buoy Auction.

What better event to tie our incredible community together than the Art (Art Haven) and Sole (fishing community) in one huge collaborative ball of positive energy?

THIS IS IT!!!!!!

I can personally tell you this event is so much fun.  To see these kids beaming on stage as their hand painted buoy gets bid on is absolutely priceless.

So get yourself and your family down to Art Haven and soak in all that positive energy baby!   It’s on Friday night at 6:00PM

Jan 28th- For More Info- http://www.arthaven.org/

DSC02286

DSC02267DSC02269DSC02270DSC02272DSC02273DSC02275DSC02276

David Brooks Wrote-

A special thank you to all involved with the 2010 Lobster Trap Christmas Tree. The tree isn’t as big as last year but It certainly is a beauty. Standing around 30 ft. topped off with a lobster trap star.

Traps came from the following fisherman:

Scott Horne, John Symonds, Jay Gustaferro, Kevin O’Malley

Special Thanks to Volunteer Builders:

Ed Collard, Paul Morrison, David Brooks, Russell Hobbs, Daniel Brooks, Donna Ardizzoni, Rick Moore, Alex Bigger-Allen, Shane O’Neill, Theon O’Neill, Vicotor Quesada, Iris Quesada

Also Thanks to media from:

Joey Ciaramitaro  (Good Morning Gloucester),Desi Smith  (Gloucester Daily Times), Masao Okano and Yuichi Watanabe (Cape Ann TV)

An Open Apology To My Neighbors

Dear Neighbors,

I am sorry for “being that GUY” who leaves up his Christmas lights way too long. Especially, incredibly cheesy candy cane lights on a tree that was barely alive before the 25 snowstorms. I was always the guy who said it’s February dang it – get your bleeping lights off your house! In my only defense, I have tried to pull them off but there is 7 feet of snow there. Its been snowing right before Christmas and has it stopped? Our Cape Ann Weather guy (Twitter @capeannguy) reports we have had 63 inches this year – Do You think I get a pass this year or am I the neighbor you don’t want to live next to?

Sincerely – Patrick

 

Right to Photograph Federal Buildings Upheld

Because photography is such a big part of GMG, I thought readers might be interested in this.

Since 9/11 many street photographers have been stopped from photographing federal buildings from public property by law enforcement or security personnel. These photographers, both amateur and professional, have been told that such activity is illegal and, in some cases, they have been ordered to destroy any images that have been taken or have been threatened with arrest.

It has never been illegal to photograph public buildings from public spaces and a court decision in October 2010 made that clear. Now the Department of Homeland Security has codified that decision by issuing an information bulletin upholding the rights of photographers in these cases.

The full DHS bulletin is here.

Do You Know

painting of great house at Good Harbor Beach / Bass Rocks
Painting by E.J. Lefavour

Do you know what this house is called, or any of its history?  I have loved this house and its beautiful setting since the first time I saw it many years ago.  I would love to know its story, but don’t know how to identify it.  Can anyone out there help?

E.J. Lefavour

www.khanstudiointernational.com

The Bandit Kings ~ Dog Bar ~ Friday Night

Guaranteed good time.

The time frame has changed to  8:30 to 11:30 Please call ahead if you have questions.

Live Music 6 Nights a week – No Cover Ever

65 Main St
Gloucester, MA
978-281-6565

CLICK for a calendar of upcoming shows